In honour of Lancashire's first County Championship since 1934, and as a long standing lover of cricket, LCCC supporter John Hastings commemorates the county's tremendous achievement in verse.
THE RED ROSE BLOOMS AGAIN
Well done to Lancashire Cricket Club
on their County Championship glory.
The Brothers Grimm could not have
written a better fairy story.
Laurel and Hardy were making us laugh,
King George the Fifth reigned supreme,
the last time that “Red Rose” supporters
hailed a Championship winning team
When season Twenty Eleven began,
the general expectation
was for mid-table respectability,
far away from relegation.
However, to the astonishment
of even the most one-eyed fan,
The “Red Rose” began to blossom
with the spirit of “Yes We Can”.
Every victory diversified from
a close triumph to an innings romp.
Not even the odd defeat or draw
could deter from Lancashire’s pomp.
Then, on the 15th of September,
Glen Chapple and his companions
shattered through the final barrier
to become, at last, County Champions
Finally, seventy seven years
of anguish, frustration and pain
were consigned to history’s pavilion
and NEVER to loom large again.
Next year, Lancashire must be given
the opportunity to cross swords
with the Champions of Australia
in a “Winner Take All” at Lord’s.
More poems by John can be found at "John Hastings' Poetry" on Facebook.
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